Method of and apparatus for finishing fabrics



J. H.'RICHA April 22, 1941.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING FABRICS Filed Sept. 8,1939 2Sheets-Sheet -1 In I n INVENTOR Jo/m hf. IP/t/Ia.

April 22,

J. H. RicHA I METHOD, or AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING FABRICS Filed Sept,8, 1939 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jo lm hf Ric/2a.

TTORNEY' Patented Apr. 1941 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING rABnos John H. Richa, KansasCity, Mo., 'assignor,- by

direct and name assignments, of one-half to said Richa and one-half toCharles B. Jones,

Kansas City, Mo'.

Application September a, 1939, Serial no. 293,882

24 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for finishingfabrics, particularly shaping and removal of wrinkles therefrom.

Heretofore fabrics and fabric garments have been restored to shape andthe wrinklesremoved therefrom by pressing with hot irons, steam pressesand like appliances, but such methods have not been satisfactory,especially in the pressing of certain types of fabrics and garmentshavingirregular shapes, for example velvets, the puffed sleeves ofladies garments, the tops of men's trousers, the shoulder and sleeveportions of coats, and other parts of complex shape.

When such articles are pressed either by hot irons orsteam presses theyrequire many lays of the garment with the result that overlapping pressmarks remain in the garment after finishing, the nap is pressed flatgiving a shiny or gloss like appearance, and more than likely parts ofthe'gannent have been pressed out of shape. These difliculties have beenalleviated in part by the use of special presses having shaped bucks,but even in well equipped establishments having all of the latestpressing appliances, it is impossible to press successfully all of thegarments which are to be processed.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a simple and inexpensive method of finishing fabrics andpartic-' ularly irregularly shaped portions of garments with a singlelay and without resorting to pressure, so that the finished article isretained in normal shape with the nap or pile in natural condition. l

A further object of the'invention is to provide a simple and relativelyinexpensive apparatus for practicing my improved process.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, hereinafterpointed out, I have provided an, improved apparatus, the preferred formof which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of a finishing apparatus embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section through the blower and heater elements of theapparatus with the motor shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the ap- Watus.

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevationalview particularly illustrating theconstruction and mounting of the heating element.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5'5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective viewof the bag,

part of which is brokenaway to better illustrate the constructionthereof. I

Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating application of the sleeve andshoulder of a garment on the bag, and illustrating inflation thereof torestore shape and remove the wrinkles therefrom.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of bag restrictingband.

Referring more in detail to" the drawings:

I designates a finishing apparatus constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and. with which I am able to practice my improvedmethod in finishing fabric garments without resorting to pressure ofirons or the like.

The apparatus illustrated includes a base 2 having a standard 3supporting a plate-like head 4. Mounted on the head l is a motor 5 and ablower 6 carrying a heater 1. The blower includes a casing} attached toa flange 9 of the head and is provided with an air inlet l0 and anoutlet ll to-a'nozzl l2,} ,wh'ich nozzle, in the illustratedinstance;extends. laterally with respect to the standard 3;j-Tliei'annature shaft I3 of the motor projects intfothe blower casingand mounts an impellerfllg The heater 1 includesa' shelll5 covering theopening Ill and having anair inlet 16 in a side thereof. Supportedwithin the shell is'a plurality of tubular coils I! having fins l8across which air is drawn into the blower for discharge through thenozzle l2.

The coils are connected with a source of steam supply througha pipe l9connecting a separator 20 and a pipe 2| connecting the separator withthe inlet of the coils. The steam and condensate, after passing throughcoils of the heater, are discharged through a pipe 22 under control of avalve 23 to maintain a pressure in the separator.

Fixed within the nozzle l2 and to the upper side thereof is a laterallyextending tubular arm 24 having a closed outer end 25 and an open innerend 26 communicating directly with the blower outlet H. Theupper-portion of the arm 24 is provided with a plurality of apertures 21through which the portion of the air entering the open end 26 isdischarged along. the length of the arm for a purpose later described.

A portion of the pipe 2| above referred to pref erably extends throughthe nozzle and into the arm 24 in theform of a p 28, which loop extendssubstantially the entire length'the-reof and returns through the openend 26- as shown in Fig. 3, so that the steam withinthe loop 28 of thepipe 2! is utilized in maintaining the parts in heated condition and foravoiding condensation of steam that is discharged thereinto by way of adistributing conduit 29.

The conduit 29 extends Within and is coextensive in length with the arm24 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 29 for dischargingsteam along the length thereof which steam passes outwardly through theapertures 21. The

inlet end of the conduit 29 extends through thenozzle and connects byway of a throttle valve 30 with the separator. The valve 30 carries anactuating lever 3| that is operated by a foot treadle 32 through aflexible connection 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

' The air outlet of the blower is controlled by a damper 34, whichdamper is carried on a shaft 35 having its ends journalled in the sidewalls of the fan casing. The end of the shaft 35 on the operators sideof the machine terminates in a handle 36 by which the damper may beswung to and from closing relation with respect to the opening. Thehandle 36 also operates an electrical switch 31, which switch iselectrically connected in the circuit of the motor 5, and is constructedand arranged so that when thedamper is open, the switch is 'closed andthe motor is energized for operating the blower, but when the damper isclosed the switch is open and the motor is de-energized for stopping theblower.

Sleeved over the arm 24 is a closed bag 38, which bag may approximatethe shape and size of a garment or a portion of a garment to befinished. The bag may be of any suitable shape depending upon the workin hand. In the illustrated instance the bag is especially designed forfinishing tubular portions of garments such as sleeves, including theirshoulder portions, and therefore includes a cylindrical portion 39 ofsomewhat larger diameter and of longer length than the correspondingdimensions of a sleeve of maximum size to be conditioned with theapparatus. The inner end of the bag carries a neck 40 that is engagedover the nozzle l2 and secured thereon by suitable fastening means suchas bands 4! as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The bag 38 is flexible and constructed of a material permeable to afluid medium such as "air and/or steam, and preferably of a fabricmaterial .woven with sufficient tightness to provide limitedpermeability to effect ballooning or distension thereof and themaintenance of a certain pressure therein when steam and/or :air ispassed thereinto by way of the nozzle and arm 24, the pressure employeddepending upon the nature and character of the work being finished. Theweaving, however, must be sufficiently open to provide limitedpermeability and permit restricted discharge of the steam and/or airthrough the meshes thereof for treating and softening the fabric of thegarment for finishing and to effect curing of the fabric following theinital finishing operation. The important function of the bag is tosupport and distend the garment or the portion thereof under treatmentto its normal size and to provide uniform distribution of steam and/orair to all portions of the garment being treated. The amount of pressureis regulated by positioning of the damper 34, which damper controls thevolume and velocity of the air entering the bag. The excess material inthe bag for a given sized garment is automatically taken up by folds inthe bag. It is possible, however, to form the bag of porous material ofelastic character, whereby the wall of the bag may expand underinflation pressures regulated by the operator.

In practicing my improved method with the apparatus as above describedfor finishing a sleeved garment, the sleeve of the garment is passedover the bag while it is in deflated condition. The sleeve readilypasses over the collapsed bag for the reason that the arm 24 retains thebag in a laterally extended condition. In order to prevent flaring ofthe edge of sleeve by ballooning of the bag, where the bag is notconstricted by the sleeve, a rigid band 42 is passed over the bag aheadof the garment as shown in Fig. '7, or, if desired, an extensible band43, as shown in Fig. 8, may be attached to the nozzle and withdrawn tothe point where it meets the wrist end of the sleeve. The band 43 isshown as consisting of a pluralityof extensible sections 44, oneslidable over the other. With this band, expansion of the portion of thebag ahead of the sleeve is restricted to the confines of the sleeve andthere is no great loss of fiuid medium from the bag except through thefabric of the garment. When the sleeve is in position the operator stepson the treadle 32 to open the throttle valve 30, whereupon steam isadmitted to the conduit 29 from which it is exhausted through theapertures 29 into the arm 24, escaping through the open end 26 of thearm 24 andthrough the apertures 21 therein into the bag, ballooning thebag to the shape of the garment, as best shown in Fig. '7. The excessmaterial in the bag will wrinkle as shown, but this has no effect on thesmoothness of the garment. The ballooned bag will thus conform to thenormal shape of the garment and the steam will pas substantiallyuniformly through the meshes of the bag and through the fabric of thegarment to soften the fabric and allow smoothing of the wrinkles in thegarment during distension thereof to its former shape.

At the time of steaming, or subsequent thereto, the air valve is openedthe proper amount for admitting'air in the desired quantity into the bag38 for distending the sleeve and shoulder of the garment to their propershape and completely remove all wrinkles therefrom. The degree of valveopening for a given type garment is soon determined, and the operatormay tell when maximum pressure for the work has been reached throughnoting expansion of the garment. After the steam is shut off the blastof heated air maintains the proper distension and thoroughly dries outthe garment so that the fabric is set or cured on the distended bag.When the fabric is set, the handle 36 is shifted to its normal positionso as to close the damper 34 and stop operation of the motor. The bagwill then immediately collapse so that the sleeve of the garment may bereadily removed therefrom, completing the operation. The other sleevemay then be treated in like manner, after which the body portion of thegarment may be similarly finished by applying it in like manner to a baghaving a similar shape.

In finishing wet garments, the fabric of which is already thoroughlymoistened, the steam may be dispensed with, and the entire finishingoperation effected with the hot air alone.

While I have illustrated only one shape and form of bag, it is obviousthat various shapes and forms may be provided, it being clearly obviousthat to finish the tops of trousers a bag must be provided substantiallyconforming insliape and form with the seat, waist, and hip portionsthereof.

It is further obvious that, as in the case of the sleeve bag, a givensized bag may be used in the topping operation, the surplus materialbeing taken up in the folds of the bag when the bag is ballooned in thegarment.

When a garment is finished in accordance with the present invention, thenap or pile is moved by the steam and air to its normal position so thatthe nap over the entire portion of the garment under treatment extendsin the same direction. Since no pressure is applied, or ironing op--While several different shaped bags may be required to meet the needs ofcommercial work, they are relatively inexpensive and represent no largeinvestment on the part of the user.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. In an aparatus of the character described, a blower having an inletand an outlet nczr'le, a tubular arm connected with said nozzle andhaving outlet apertures, apermeable bag sleeved over said arm andsecured with respect tothe nozzle, a heater connected to the,inlet ofsaid blower, an apertured pipecoextensive with said arm, a steam supplyconnected with said pipe for introducing steam into said bag, and aheating coil supported in said arm for retarding con densation of saidsteam in the bag.

2. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described,including a flexible bag adapted to be clothed by a garment anddistendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium, and means forintroducing the fluid medium into the bag for balooning the bag to theexpanded shape of a garment clothed thereon, said bag having a permeablebody portion for discharging the fluid medium through thegarment'clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the gar mentsimultaneously with expansion of the garment.

3. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described,including a flexible, inflatable bag adapted to be clothed by a garmentand distendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium, and means forintroducing the fluid medium into the bag for ballooning the'bag to theexpanded shape of a garment clothed thereon, said bag having a permeablebody portion of limited permeability for discharging the fluid mediumoutwardly through the garment clothed thereon and retaining suflic'ientfluid medium for maintaining inflation of the bag to condition thefabric of. the garment simultaneously with expansion of the garment.

4. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described,including a flexible bag adapted to be clothed by a garment anddistendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium, means for,introducing the fluid,medium into the bag for ballooning the bag to theexpanded shape of a garment-clothed thereon, said bag having a permeablebody portion for discharging the fluid medium through the garmentclothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garmentsimultaneously with expansion of the garment, and means for supplyingmoisture for application to the garment.

5. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described,including a flexible, inflatable bag adapted to be clothed by a garmentand distendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium, means forintroducing the fluid medium into the bag for ballooning the bag to theexpanded shape of a garment clothed thereon, said bag having a permeablebody portion of limited permeability for discharging the-fluid mediumoutwardly through the garment clothed .thereon and retainingsu'flicie'nt fluid medium for maintaining inflation of the bag tocondition the fabric of the garment simultaneously with expansion of thegarment, and means for supplying moisture to the fluid medium forapplication therewith to said garmentI' 6. Apparatus for finishinggarments of the character described, including a flexible, inflatablebag adapted to be clothed by a garment and distendable in responseto'pressure of a fluid. medium, means for introducing the fluid medium.

into the bag for ballooning the bag to the expanded shape of a garmentclothed thereon, said bag having a permeable body portion fordischarging the fluid medium through the garment clothed thereon andretaining suflicient fluid medium for maintaining inflation of the bagto condition the fabric of the garment simultaneously with expansion ofthe garment, and a sleeve slidable over the bag to, control ballooningof that portion of the bag not clothed by the I garment and to restrictescape of the fluid medium through said unclothed portion of the bag. 7.Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described, including aflexible bag adapted to be clothed by a garment and distendable inresponse to pressure of a fluid medium, means for introducing the fluidmedium into the bag for ballooning the bag to the expanded shape of agarment clothed thereon, said bag having a permeable body portion fordischarging the fluid medium through the garment clothed thereon forconditioning the fabric of the garment si. multaneously with expansionof the garment, and means for heating the fluid medium prior toapplication thereof to the garment.

8. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character'described,including a flexible bag adapted to be clothed by a, garment anddistendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium, means forintroducing the fluid medium into the bag for ballooning the bag to theexpanded shape .of a garment clothed thereon, said bag having apermeable body portion for discharging the fluid medium through thegarment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garmentsimultaneously with expansion of the garnient, means for supplyingmoisture for application-to the garment, and means for heating the fluidmedium prior to application thereof to the garment.

QIApparatus for finishing garments of the character described, includinga flexible bag adapted to be clothed by a garment and distend able inresponse topressure of a fluid medium, means for introducing the fluidmedium into the bag for ballooning the bag to the expanded shape of agarment clothed thereon, said bag adapted to be clothed by a garment anddistendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium, means forintroducing the fluid medium into the bag for ballooning the bag to theexpanded shape of a garment clothed thereon, said bag having a permeablebody portion for discharging the fluid medium through the garmentclothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garmentsimultaneously with expansion of the garment, and means controllingvolume of the pressure medium discharged into the bag for regulatingexpansion of the bag.

11. Apparatus of'the character described, including a flexible baghaving a mouth, means supporting the bag by its mouth for freedistension thereof from said supporting means in response to pressure ofa fluid medium introduced into the bag, means having connection with themouth of the bag. for supplying the fluid medium, said bag havinglimited permeability for effecting a restricted discharge of the fluidmedium through the bag, and means controlling volume of the pressuremedium discharged into 0 the bag for regulating distension of the bag.

12. Apparatus of the character described, including a support, anarmextending from the support, a flexible bag having a mouth looselysleeved over the arm, means connecting the mouth of the bag with thesupport, and means having discharge into the mouth of the bag forintroducing a fluid medium into the bag to effect free distensionthereof about the arm, said bag having limited permeability to maintaina restricted discharge of the fluid medium through the bag.

13. Apparatus of the character described, including a flexible baghaving a mouth, means supporting the bag by its mouth for free disten- Lsion thereof from said supporting means in response to pressure of afluid medium introduced into the bag, a blower having connection withthe mouth of the bag for supplying the fluid medium, said bag havinglimited permeability for I effecting a restricted discharge of the fluidmedium through the bag, means for introducing steam through the mouth ofthe bag for discharge through the bag, and an imperforate sleeveadjustably slidable over the mouth of the bag for controlling distensionof the bag by said fluid medium and to restrict discharge of the steam.v

14; Apparatus of the character described, in-

- cluding a support, an arm extending from the support, a flexible baghaving a mouth loosely sleeved over the arm, means connecting the mouthof the bag with the support, a blower having discharge into themouth ofthe bag for introducing a fluid medium into the bag to effect freedistension thereof about the arm, said bag having limited permeabilityto maintain a restricted discharge of the fluid medium through the bag,and a heater located in the path of the fluid medium for heating thefluid medium prior to its introduction into the bag.

15. Apparatus of the character described, including a woven fabric baghaving a mouth, means supporting the bag by its mouth for freedistension thereof from said supporting means in response to pressure ofa fluid medium introduced into the bag, and means having connection withthe mouth of the bag for supplying the fluid medium, said bag beingflexible for self-adjustment within an article placed thereover andwoven. sufliciently close for retaining fluid medium to maintain saiddistension while discharging the fluid medium through the bag.

16. Apparatus of the character described, including a support, an armextending from the support, a flexible bag having a mouth looselysleeved over the arm, means connecting the mouth of the bag with thesupport, means for introducing a fluid medium through the mouth ofthebag to efiect free distension of the bag about the arm, said baghaving-limited permeability adapted for temporarily maintaining saiddistension in response to restricted discharge of the fluid mediumthrough the bag, and a steam supply duct extending along the arm andhaving aplurality of perforations for distributing steam within the bag.

17. Apparatus of the character described, including a support, an armextending from the support, a flexible bag having a mouth looselysleeved over the arm, means connecting the mouth of the bag with thesupport, means having discharge into the mouth of the bag forintroducing a fluid medium into the bag to efiect free distensionthereof from the support for restoringa garment placed thereover to itsnatural shape, said bag having limited permeability to temporarilymaintain said distension in response to restricted discharge of thefluid medium from. the bag, a steam'supply duct extending along the armand having outlet into the bag for discharge through the bag intocontact with the garment, and a preheater extending along the arm topreheat said arm and retard condensation in the steam supply duct.

18. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character described,including a textile fabric bag adapted for filling out a garment, placedthereon responsive to pressure of steam and air introduced into the bag,means supporting the bag, means having connection with the bag forinjecting steam into the bag to inflate the bag for effecting distensionof the garment to its original shape, the fabric of said bag havinginterstices proportioned to provide outlet of the steam into contactwith the garment while maintaining inflation of the bag, meanscontrolling .flow of steam to the bag, and means connected with the bagfor injecting heated air into the bag for selectively supplementing thesteam in inflating the bag and for maintaininginflation of the bag uponsuspension of the flow of steam by said control means and for diffusionthrough said interstices to dry the distended garment flow of steam tothe bag, a heater having support in the path of air moved by the blowerfor heat-. ing the air prior to its discharge into the bag,

valving means controlling discharge of the air from said blower, andmeans controlled by the valving means for energizing the motor. 7

20. The method of finishing a fabric garment, including positioning thegarment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while the bag is indeflated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape byinflating the bag with a pressure medium, and simultaneously subjectingthe fabric of the garment to the inflating medium by permeation of theinflating medium through the bag into contact with the garment.

21. The method of finishing a fabric garment,

including positioning the garment upon an inflatable and permeable bagwhile the bag is indeflated condition, distending the garment to itsnormal shape by inflating the bag with steam, and simultaneouslysoftening the fabric of the garment with steam permeating through thebag into contact with the garment.

22. The method of finishing ,a fabric garment,

23.- The method of finishing a fabric garment, including positioning thegarment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while the bag is indeflated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape byinflating the bag, moiste ning the garment, maintaining distension ofthe moistened including positioning the garment upon an inflatable andpermeable bag while the bag isin deflated condition, distending thegarment to its normal shape by inflating the bag, softening the fabricof the garment by permeating steam through the inflated bag into contactwith the garment, suspending flow of the steam, maintaining distensionoi the garment by introduction or hot air into the bag, and drying thegarment on the inflated bag by permeating the hot ininto contact withthe flating air through the bag garment.

garment by the bag, and drying the garment on the inflated bag bypermeating the inflating medium through the bag into contact with thegarment;

24". Apparatus for finishing and shaping garments of the characterdescribed, including a flexible, inflatable bag adapted to be clothed bya garment, the shape of said bag conforming generally to the shape ofsaid garment and being distendable in response to pressure of steam orair, said bag being limitedly permeable for re--'

